Saturday, June 9, 2012

Sara took Mater and Teddy to the APHA show this weekend in southern Wisconsin. Here is Sara tucking Teddy in for the nite. Yes, that's a beer. New Glarus Spotted Cow, no doubt. Yes, we give our beers bovine names. Yes, I'd like another.

On a related note, I'm quietly contented that I'll Have Another was scratched from today's Belmont Stakes. There are several reasons, the most important and obvious being the welfare of the animal. Secondly is the suspense of not having a Triple Crown winner. It's been 34 years since the last winner of the Triple Crown, and I'm in no rush to see another winner. Suspense is good for the sport. I mean really, do you want to see the Packers win the Super Bowl every year? That would get old like last week's bread. And lastly is not having the Triple Crown be awarded to a trainer with a reputation that precedes him.

You see, trainer "Drug" O'Neill's reputation is cloudy, having 25 violations on record and fines in excess of $30k. He's been suspended at Arlington and has a suspension pending in Cali. He's known for countless other violations and has a reputation for pushing too far. Because of his indiscretions, Belmont's stable has been on lockdown.

With this said, I can't help but wonder if O'Neill scratched I'll Have Another to save his reputation. Memories of Barbaro are still crisp in my mind, and some question if Matz pushed him too hard. With O'Neill's checkered reputation, a devastating injury on the doorstep of the Triple Crown would end his training career.